Page 16 of Unexpected Love

“Afraid so. But also, your brother speaks very highly of you. I’ve seen your picture plenty, and it’s in your eyes. You and your brother share the same eyes.”

I notice the tattoos on his fingers first, and I think I should be nervous speaking to him, but something about him has me relaxing slightly. I feel my shoulders fall from my ears and that light feeling I had only moments before starts to return.

“He’s a bit of a teddy bear, that brother of mine.”

The man laughs, deep and hearty, dimples easy to see even behind his beard. “That he is. He can’t seem to help himself.”

I laugh quietly, knowing truer words have never been spoken.

“I’m Walter, but most people call me Walt.”

“Nice to meet you, Walt. I’m Ava.”

“Lovely to meet you, Ava. Do you need a menu?”

“Can I just get a cheeseburger? I haven’t had one in far too long and a burger sounds really good right now.” I sag in my seat, letting some of the weight of everything lift, at least for a little while.

“Sure thing. Fries okay with that?” Walt’s smile is kind, though I think there might be a little pity peeking through in his eyes.

“Yeah, and a Guinness would be great.”

“A woman after my own heart,” he jokes, placing his hands over his heart.

He drops his hands after a moment, placing them on the bar in front of me, almost as if he wants to give my arm a comforting squeeze but decides against it. “I’ll go put that order in for you.”

Walt isn’t gone long before I feel someone take the seat next to me. I’m getting ready to tell them to leave me alone when I realize it’s Gage Flynn, the deputy from the courthouse earlier this week, a charming smile quickly growing on his face.

eight

GAGE

I can seein the way she holds herself that Ava’s not open to a conversation at the moment—something is clearly weighing on her. But even seeing that, I can’t walk away. I want to help lessen the load, even if only for a little while.

With a smile I’m not entirely sure I feel, I plop onto the seat next to her. “You know, I honestly thought I would run into you around town sooner than this, but somehow it never happened.” I turn to her, taking in her guarded eyes when she looks at me.

She scoffs, facing forward. “Been looking out for me, have you?”

“Oh, definitely.” I can’t take my eyes off her, even if she refuses to look at me. “Especially after learning about what brought you to town. Anyone who helps Scott Marks keep that bitch of a woman away from Max is a person I want to shake hands with.”

“Gotta love small towns,” she mumbles under her breath, releasing a deep sigh before speaking louder. “You already shookmy hand.” She fiddles with the napkin Walt placed in front of her.

“Maybe, but that was before I knew what you were doing here.” I turn in my seat, angling my body toward her.

She lifts her head to look at me, studying me for a moment before mirroring my position. “Well, I wouldn’t want to let you down.”

She holds her hand out between us, offering me a handshake. Her eyes are still guarded, but there’s something else in them, too. Maybe sadness? Or resignation? I feel the smile fall from my lips as I take her hand in mine. It’s soft and warm. I’m not surprised by the softness, but I’m surprised by the warmth.

“You decided to come introduce yourself, did you?” Walt’s voice breaks through the moment as he places a pint in front of Ava.

I turn to Walt, quickly coming back to the moment. “We actually met earlier this week. I just wanted to commend Ava on helping Scott. That man deserves the best, and we all know from Declan that Ava’s the best.”

“Right, I forgot about Nicole being back in town.” Walt turns to Ava. “I’m sure you can’t talk about it, but Scott won’t lose that boy, right? He’s too good of a father and she’s too much of a…well, I don’t know the right word for that woman.”

“Bitch?” I offer.

Walt taps the side of his nose before pointing at me, signaling I’m right but he won’t be saying it himself.

One side of Ava’s lips tip up in a half smile as she shakes her head slightly. “No, I don’t think Scott has anything to worry about. I think any judge looking at the evidence will leave things exactly how they are.”

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